The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-04
Local Option.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
I am so much in earnest the temperance
question that will gladly accept anything that
is an improvement the present situation.
Hence, shall not be foolish as to expect to
enter Richmond. except by the way of Vicks-
burg and do expect to enter Richmond. Many
said sit is only breakfast spell" but the to
Richmond was found to be Through Shiloh.
Franklin, Gettysburg. the Wilderness and Cold
Harbor Neither would 1 be of the ''240, 0OO'
standing along the roadside shouting ION to
Richmond" while the army was passing along
this only route leading to Richmond,
viz. via Vicksburg. OF the best, want as
much as I can get.
The issues are of such vast Importance and
the results OF such awful magnitude that they
should be neither delayed nor lost by few
fremists. The blind poor leaders. Do not
say, 60 on with your local option; rather. IKE
will probably not be decided at Vicksburg, but
that point must be gained ''Come on" Chicka-
manga is ahead that point may not decide 1t.
but "come on" Look beyond local option2
Who says nay2 My article local option
concl udes with the statement that the fruit of
local option will be to drive the liquor selling to
the cities. where it will die" What does that
meant l again say. now, That prohibitory
amendment cannot be passed into q law in In
diana, and, if it could, it would be dead letter
in many, many places and would foster a spirit
of disobsdience to lava deporable condition
of society; while local option could and would
De enforced In all places WDero prOnlOlLlOn
would succeed and in many. many places where
prohibition would utterly fail. The enforcement
of prohibitory law depends upon the honesty
and in tegrity of the local oficers-these officers
being elected by the friends and neighbors
of the persons against whom the law initiates
Under local option the man who wants to en-
gage in the vllanoas traffic must obtain the
consent of fixed majority of the municipality
in which he expects TO SELL and the sentiment
of majority of the people in most localities be-
ing really against the business we know that
men will be slow to parade the fact that they
favor the traffic. Another thing we know is
that prohibition aud local option alike fail in
Cities that the sustaining and enforcing of
either law depends, as does all law, on public
sentiment.
The general character of society In cities is
not of such a nature will sustain stringent
moral reform Saloons swarm around cities as
matter of business. They go there because
there is demand there for their goods.
There more old drinkers there. There
more there who can drink and let it alone
There is larger crop of boys and young men
there out of which to fill the ranks when the
older ones are disposed Of In word, however
much may deplore it, the fact is that all laws
tending to better society and purer government
much dlsregarded in the
No riots in the country. No dynamite
bombs in the country. No systematic election
frauds in the country. They are the outgrowth
of densely- populated communities, fed by sa-
looms. wish the society of The city could be as
pure that of the country. The philosophic
view Is to take matters as they are. DO the best
twos. Let us have as much prohibition as we
then will always have much as we
make practical; we will have all sustain.
From places where prohibition. under local op-
ton. is enforced will come forth of purity.
reformation, higher life. better society, better
people. in health and wealth; all will be better
and who says this is not grand step forwardf
The question only resolves itself back to this:
Will we secure the highest good under local OPP
tion, knowing it to be grand success will
we, in the face of the fact of the known good
suits from such a law, contend for law which
cannot be enacted, at least for years to
come, and which, when enacted,
not be any of than
local option2 It is only a question of means.
/ am prohibitionist- The Union army. and
the loyal men of the whole Nation, would gladly
have gone direct from Vicksburg to Richmond,
even a forced march, with short rations and
poor pay; but an enemy obstructed the highway.
L would, in convention. move a resolution de-
stroying forever and eternally the entire liquor
traffic, einptying the whole business into the
and confiscating all liquors thereafter
made imported, and imprisoning for life any
and all persons who handled, in any manner, the
accursed stuff after the present crop is disposed
of bu. resolutions good of themselves.
To say. BE it enacted" ETC., does not destroy
evil. We must content ourselves by doing the
best we can Crawl. walk, then
ISAAC II. PHARES